Country: Georgia
Closing date: 27 Oct 2016
Trainer(s) for Social Workers
Background
Between December 2014 and May 2015 UNICEF and its partner World Vision in close cooperation with the Informal Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Child Wellbeing carried out an Assessment of Child Wellbeing and Protection in Abkhazia. The report on the assessment identified key needs of improvement in the child wellbeing system in Abkhazia and gave recommendations of priority actions to address these needs. Especially, the report recommended that the authorities develop social work as a profession and core element in improving the wellbeing and protection of children in Abkhazia. The report also offered the support of UNICEF and World Vision in this regard.
Consequently, UNICEF, in cooperation with the Informal Inter-Ministerial Working Group on Child Wellbeing (including representatives of four key ministries) and with the assistance of a group of international social work experts, developed a Conceptual Framework for Social Work Practice in Abkhazia and a Training Curriculum for Social Workers that have consequently been reviewed and approved by the Working Group. An implementation phase of 18 months is suggested for the pilot model of social work practice in Abkhazia which will be tested in three districts. UNICEF will support the employment of a first group of social workers (up to 12) financially, methodologically and technically during the pilot phase.
Before assuming their duties, social workers will take an introductory training course in social work. Simultaneously, efforts will be made to develop collaboration/referral mechanisms between the new social workers, other specialists of relevant central and district level structures, as well as community-level social work focal points providing services to vulnerable children and their families.
Purpose of the consultancy
UNICEF seeks to engage several international consultants to undertake – in close cooperation with UNICEF's Sukhumi Field Office, the inter-ministerial Working Group on Child Wellbeing and other relevant stakeholders in Abkhazia – the implementation of an introductory training course for social workers, as well as capacity building on the concept of social work and the Conceptual Framework for Social Work Practice in Abkhazia for the specialists of relevant central and district level structures providing services to vulnerable children and their families.
Interested experts can apply individually or as a team of consultants for the whole consultancy or for specific tasks (see below) under this consultancy.
Main tasks and timeframe
Tasks
Training for social workers**
Based on the Social Work Training Curriculum developed for Abkhazia, prepare, in close coordination with UNICEF, a detailed training session plan and materials, as well as pre and post training evaluation questionnaires. (This task and the allocated work days include all preparatory work, like studying necessary documents/background information including the Assessment of Child Wellbeing and Protection in Abkhazia, Conceptual framework for Social Work Practice in Abkhazia and Training Curriculum for Social Workers, to fully understand the local context.)
Timeframe- By 16 December 2016
Amount of working days- 25 (from home)
Deliverables- Good quality, detailed Training Session Plan and training materials
Deliver introductory training course for social workers or parts thereof. This training should incorporate both local knowledge and international best practices for improving the wellbeing of children and families and empower the first group of social workers in Abkhazia with a minimum standard of competence, knowledge and skills to fulfill their duties.
Timeframe- By 28 February 2017
Amount of working days-25 (in Abkhazia)
Deliverables- Good quality training
Develop a report outlining the main opportunities, challenges, remaining needs and recommendations for strengthening capacities of social workers in Abkhazia, including in-service training needs.
Timeframe- By 10 March 2017
Amount of working days- 3 (from home)
Deliverables- Good quality training report
Tasks
Capacity building on social work for central and district level stakeholders
Prepare and conduct three one-day workshops on the concept of social work and the Conceptual Framework for Social Work Practice in Abkhazia, i.e. one in each of the three pilot districts, for representatives of district level stakeholders dealing with issues of children (i.e. district education authorities responsible for guardianship, militia inspectors dealing with issues of minors, district healthcare institutions representatives, district prosecutor's offices' representatives responsible for minors, social welfare specialists, NGOs, youth committees, psychologists and others) with participation of representatives of relevant central level structures.
The workshops should aim at introducing to the participants the pilot model of social work to be implemented in Abkhazia, especially, the roles and responsibilities of social workers and mechanisms of cross-sectoral collaboration/ referral on central and district level;
Timeframe- By 28 February 2017
Amount of working days- 5 (in Abkhazia)
Deliverables- Three good quality workshops
Develop a report outlining the main opportunities, challenges, remaining needs and recommendations for strengthening cross-sectoral collaboration/referral mechanisms on central district level.
Timeframe- By 10 March 2017
Amount of working days- 2(from home)
Deliverables- Good quality report
TOTAL WORK DAYS 70
* All timelines in this table are tentative and can be adapted on agreement between UNICEF, the consultants and local stakeholders.
** The Training Curriculum for Social Workers (Annex 1) is divided into 4 units and 17 modules and includes 1 additional unit for social work supervisors. Each module includes main topics/course content, learning objectives, recommended texts, suggested class discussions and activities, and suggested assignments. The total amount of time needed to complete the course is approximately 25 working days. It is suggested to divide the course into several parts/phases with intervals in between. The number of training parts/phases, the exact schedule, as well as the required number of the consultants' visits to Abkhazia, will be identified in consultation and coordination of UNICEF with the consultants and local stakeholders.
Qualifications/experience required
Advanced university degree in social work, social sciences or other fields relevant to social work;
At least 5 years of practical experience as social worker, or in working in other relevant functions in the field of child care/social protection;
Deep understand of child care/protection system and services;
Excellent communication skills;
Proven experience in developing training modules and delivering training;
Fluency in English and Russian; excellent writing and presentation skills.
Remuneration
Applicants are required to submit a financial proposal for the requested services including the consultancy fee and expected travel costs. The remuneration will be negotiated between the applicants and UNICEF Georgia and will be paid in one or several installments against delivered services at the end or throughout the contract period and as agreed between UNICEF and the consultants.
Location
The consultancy requires extensive work in Abkhazia, as well as work from home.
Performance indicators
Consultants' performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative and quality of the products delivered.
Supervision arrangement
The selected consultants will work under the supervision of the Chief of Sukhumi Field Office and in close cooperation with the international Child Protection Specialist (Tbilisi), the Child Protection and Wellbeing Assistant (Sukhumi) and other Child Protection staff of UNICEF.
Unsatisfactory performance
In case of unsatisfactory performance the contract will be terminated by a notification letter sent 15 days prior to the termination date.
Advertised: 13 Oct 2016 Georgian Standard Time
Applications close: 27 Oct 2016 Georgian Standard Time
How to apply:
To Apply please visit to the follow link: http://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/499666